Page:Life and transactions of Jane Shore, concubine to King Edward IVth.pdf/10

10 but it being late, Mrs. Blague departed, and they went to bed.

Mr. Shore sitting up late, and his wife not returning, was very much troubled, and went to his mother in law's, but they had not seen her, nor was her mother ill, so that her absence troubled the whole family. The next day was spent in seeking for her arnongst her relations and friends, but found her not. Mrs. Blague protested she had not seen her, and dropped some dissembling tears, so that her husband was almost distracted and at last concluded, that she was taken away by some courtier; and, in three days after, a lady informed them that she was with the King. This added more to their grief; they knew not what course to take; and they knew if they went to cross the King it would be their ruin.

They made inquiry, indeed, if it was her voluntary act, and finding it was, and she quite unwilling to leave her new lover, they left all hope of recovering her so that Mr. Shore growing melancholy, sold off all he had, and went abroad; but having spent his fortune, he returned in a poor condition, and practised clipping and filing gold coin to maintain himself; for which he suffered death in the latter end of K Henry VIII.'s reign.

Jane Shore having rendered up her chastity to the King, pleased with the glittering of a court, and endeared by a monarch's love, was admired by the vulgar, towards whom she behaved in a most courteous mariner.

Her power was so great with the King, that when his courtiers durst nor intercede for the poor and miserable that lay under his displeasure, she,